Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Illinois

If you and the perp signed a lease together, you are not just an "occupant", you are a co-lessee and potentially jointly and severally liable for all leasehold obligations. If you default on the lease you could be liable for rent damages if the perp doesn't meet the lease obligations. And if the rent isn't paid both of you could be evicted and you could still be liable for rent damages.... Can the landlord "just kick me out"? If you are a co-signer on the lease, no, the landlord will have to evict. An eviction, even at this early stage of the lease, could take a couple of months. If the perp can handle the rent without you, time to settle up but make sure you get off the lease; perhaps the value of your painting work could help in this regard. The landlord will most likely care little about the perp's behavior, but you never know - the landlord may not be happy having a tenant like that in his/her building. Time to have your lease obligations reviewed by an attorney and to have some frank talks with the landlord about your options.